Day 2

 This week, we are reprinting Chapter 1 of  Bruce Miller’s book, Giving: Three Questions. We’re answering the question, “Why give?”

Generous giving puts a smile on three faces. The first face is the most important. Generosity puts a smile on God’s face.

Put a smile on God’s face

Giving makes God happy. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:7:

 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

When you give, you put a smile on God’s face. This may be because God himself is a cheerful giver, so our generosity imitates God and it brings him joy when we follow his model.

When you think about God, who God really is, you want to please him. God is your creator. The triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is in a category of one. There is none like him. God is incomparable. And the one and only God tells us to give, to live generous lives. He tells us to excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). I want to obey God simply because he is God. God commands us to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:18). Giving puts a smile on God’s face because giving obeys God, the creator of everything.

My motivation to give comes not just from who God is, but also from what he has done for us. You give out of gratitude to God. God our Father is the greatest giver who gave the greatest gift. The Bible says,

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, that’s the most important step you could take. God wants to give you eternal life, forgiveness for all your sins. He offers them to us in Jesus Christ. You receive his gift of salvation by placing faith in Jesus.

In God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we have every spiritual blessing. Paul says,

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Your generous giving responds to his astoundingly previous generous giving. God has given you far more than you could ever give him.

And more than that, everything you have comes from him. In a sense, you own nothing. Every job, house, car and dollar ultimately comes from God who gives it to you to manage for him during your short stay on earth. You are a steward of his stuff. Like at the end of a Monopoly game, once your life ends, everything goes back in the box. All the properties, houses and hotels you owned, even Boardwalk, go back in the box. You don’t take your money and possessions with you into the afterlife. You simply manage them while you are here.

In light of who God is and what God has done for you, you give to worship God. At Christ’s birth, the Wise Men, the Magi, laid their generous gifts before baby Jesus. As a grown man, Jesus delighted in the widow who gave her two coins, all she had (Luke 21:1-4). He praised the unnamed woman who poured expensive perfume on his feet (Luke 7:36-50). Generous giving made Jesus smile. It puts a smile on God’s face. That’s the most important smile.

In one of his parables, Jesus talked about a master who represents God. He praised his servant who managed his resources well. Imagine being the servant and having God say this to you:

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21).

I love the thought of sharing in God’s happiness. I want to hear him say to me, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Generous giving puts that smile on God’s face. By your giving, you can share in God’s happiness. Giving creates joy, starting with God. The second smile is on others’ faces. Generous giving puts a smile on others’ faces.

Reflect

• How would you describe God’s generosity in what he has given to us?
• How does our giving impact God?